Jazz Events
To stay updated with all music and cultural events, view the Elon University cultural calendar.
Oak House Monthly Jam Sessions
Open Jam Session
First Friday of the month (February – March – April) | Oak House, 8:30 p.m.
Bring your instrument and play!
Thursday, February 19
Tuba Skinny with Yards Davis
McCrary Theatre | 7:30 p.m. |Lyceum Concert Series
Known for their musicianship and broad catalogue, New Orleans-based band Tuba Skinny offers a true take on Americana, drawing from the full lineage of popular American music with an early 20th-century lens. In 2022, Tuba Skinny fulfilled a long-time dream with the release of “Magnolia Stroll,” their first album of all original tunes. Opening for Tuba Skinny is local jazz/fusion group Yards Davis. Admission: $15 or free with Elon ID. Tickets available January 29 at ElonTickets.com.
Friday, February 20
Elon Jazz Festival: High School Performances
McCrary Theatre | 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The annual Elon Jazz Festival presents performances by local high school and middle school jazz ensembles throughout the day. This year’s featured guest artist is Roderick Paulin, one of New Orleans’ most soulful and versatile saxophonists. Please visit the Jazz Festival website for the updated schedule of events. Sponsored by the Department of Music.
Saturday, February 21
Elon Jazz Festival: Elon Jazz Ensembles with Roderick Paulin
McCrary Theatre | 7:30 p.m.
The Elon Jazz Festival culminates in a special performance by the Elon Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo featuring Roderick Paulin, one of New Orleans’ most soulful and versatile saxophonists. Sponsored by the Department of Music.
Sunday, February 22
Roderick Paulin New Orleans Sextet
Sharp 9 Gallery (4608 Industry Lane, Suite L
Durham, NC 27713) | 3:00 p.m.
Roderick “Rev” Paulin is a New Orleans–born musician and educator with a 40+ year career rooted in the city’s brass band tradition, beginning with his father, Ernest “Doc” Paulin. A versatile saxophonist and clarinetist, he is a fixture at iconic venues such as Tipitina’s, Preservation Hall, and Snug Harbor, and released his 2024 clarinet debut OLD TO NEW, honoring his brother Rickey Paulin and the pioneers of traditional New Orleans music. A leading figure among Black New Orleans clarinetists dedicated to preserving this lineage, Paulin holds degrees from Southern University A&M College and LSU and serves as Director of Jazz Studies and Applied Saxophone/Clarinet Studies, while also teaching at the Louis Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp. As a performer, he has been a featured soloist with Delfeayo Marsalis’s Uptown Jazz Orchestra for over a decade, principal clarinetist with the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, a member of the Preservation Hall Brass Band, and leader of his own group, Rev and The Congregation, continuing to share the spirit of authentic New Orleans music.
Roderick Paulin – sax and clarinet
Alex Heitlinger – trombone
Matt Leder – trumpet
Mark Wells – piano
Matt Booth – bass
Kobie Watkins – drums
Admission: $15 (student) – $30 (general) | $2.07 – $2.79 Fees
Tickets available here.
Friday, April 24
Space is the Place: the Music of Sun Ra
McCrary Theatre | 7:30 p.m.
Step into the cosmic world of Sun Ra with the Elon Jazz Ensembles in an unforgettable evening of music that blurs the lines between swing and avant-garde, drawing influences from ancient Egypt and outer space. Known for his visionary blend of jazz, philosophy, and Afrofuturism, Sun Ra invited listeners into a unique universe of sound. Expect adventurous music and intergalactic costumes! Sponsored by the Department of Music.
